Congratulations to our fans Danny and Suzanne (Wiley) Maganzini of Magoun Square who recently gave birth to their first child, a beautiful daughter named Daniela. What a lucky little girl she is to have parents like Suzanne and Danny. They are a great couple. It looks like Danny will need to increase his landscaping business from now on, won’t he?

********************

It’s amazing how well things work when you do them right. A perfect example is the newly opened “Three Little Figs” café on Highland Avenue near Cedar St. It’s been totally refurbished including a new kitchen where they do all their own baking. Great fresh coffee, too. We congratulate Kate and Andy Rooney, the new owners who are on a mission. Visit the newest city café. Our friends Bob and David have and are very impressed.

********************

Our good friend and former Publisher Bob Publicover is really doing great, out and about, pushing himself so he doesn’t end up staying at home for the many months’ doctors had predicted. He’s been planning his wedding to David, we hear sometime in June. His lovely sister who flew up here to help him on the road to recovery is back home in Arizona. We want all of Bob’s friends out there to know he’s doing great, stop in to see him at the house. He would love that!

********************

Former Mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay and her husband are celebrating her 48th wedding anniversary this week.

********************

Local favorite guitarist/singer Ed White has been playing at the Cantab Lodge and has recently entertained at Jacques on Monday in Boston. If you’re around at either place check it out.

********************

Phil Simpson, another Spring Hill resident, is one of the most dedicated workers that they have at the Perkins School for the Blind. All the kids over there love him. He’s a good guy and tell him you saw it here at Newstalk.

********************

Dan Cohen reminds us that the real estate market is far from dead if you’re doing it right. It’s Dan and others like Donald Norton who keep the houses selling.

********************

Planning a winter trip? Remember the experienced, hard working agent Mary Baker is only a phone call away or a short trip to Medford Square. Mary would love to see her old friends from Somerville over there.

********************

We still see Joyce McKenzie over at Nellie’s Wildflowers on Holland Street. Joyce is one of the best florists around. Nobody beats her creative and beautiful arrangements. And if you want a little city history, stop in during the day and look for Margie McKenzie who is a life long resident here and remembers what the Square looked like and what was what, way back when she was a little girl. Plus, Margie is so friendly to everyone. Always a big smile that both her and her daughter Joyce have for everyone stopping in the shop. Just about 100 feet from the T-station on Holland.

********************

Recently stopped in at PJ Ryan’s Pub in Teele Square. The pub is a fantastic place, always filled with friendly people. It’s owned by Connor Brennan, who is always upbeat and just a regular nice guy.   If you truly want to see what a neighborhood bar and pub is, stop in and mention us. You’ll never know who you might run into there as well.

********************

Congratulations to Sean Fitzgerald who ran a decent campaign for Alderman At Large. He did well running against four incumbents. Lucky for the incumbents there was a race in Ward 4 and Ward 7. The incumbents did very well. Hopefully next time around more will take out papers to run for local offices in the next city election.

********************

With the defeat of the PDS endorsed candidates in both Ward 4 and Ward 7, maybe that’s a sign that they are in need of new leadership? They worked very hard for their candidates but maybe they need a new change in their game plans? We hear that one of it’s favorites, Rep. Carl Sciortino, who will, as of January 1, have the entire Ward 4 and Ward 7 in Somerville, along with lesser parts of Medford, just might have more than one challenger. There was lots of talk after the elections were over by several different potential candidates.

********************

Have you been to the Arts at the Armory Café on Highland Avenue? We’re told it’s another great place for a relaxing lunch, or a coffee break. It’s run by well-known Danny Kalis. Some of us would remember the old Dapper Dan’s at Assembly Square. Stop in and say “hi” to Danny and taste some of the good coffee.

********************

Big time Happy Birthdays to some pretty well known ‘Villens here and from here. Best wishes for a good day and Happy Day to local Joe Beckmann; well known and local realtor Betty Levin; a great guy, Mario Brum, as well; and then there is Paula Jorge, who is Mario’s cousin.

********************

Happy birthday to Somerville Fire Department’s Deputy Fire Chief Dennis Murphy who is celebrating his birthday this week in the ‘Ville!

********************

Birthday greetings also to The News’ own Andrew Firestone. Enjoy your day!

********************

Congratulations to Julie Brady, who was running the campaign for Alderman Bob Trane. She did a great job keeping Bob busy over the past several months. She has a career in campaigns and that would relate to real estate, too. She’s a great lady and a nice person. We wish her well.

********************

Well, it’s finally going to happen. Medford is going to see another newspaper on the stands. Called The Medford News, the idea is being very well received in a lot of places already from people who love reading The Somerville News. Look for us online in January and on the streets shortly thereafter.